An innocent, mistletoe-induced moment of Christmas Eve confusion.
Oh, the memories that flood back when those opening notes drift through the air! For a generation that grew up with him staring out from magazine covers and dominating the dial, Bobby Sherman was the quintessential teen idol—with his dreamy blue eyes and that earnest, innocent pop sound. It’s hard to think of a time when his records weren’t spinning, and his rendition of the charmingly cheeky Christmas staple, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” remains a nostalgic touchstone for many of us who remember Christmas in the 1970s and beyond.
While the original version of this delightful ditty was famously recorded in 1952 by 13-year-old Jimmy Boyd, causing a minor scandal with certain church groups who took the lyric far too literally—imagining actual infidelity with the North Pole’s most famous resident—Bobby Sherman brought his own clean-cut, utterly sincere delivery to the song, included on his “Christmas Album” released in 1970. Though Sherman’s version wasn’t a major chart breakthrough in the way Boyd’s was (the original hit number one on the Billboard charts), his recording has endured as a classic from that specific era, a time when Bobby Sherman’s face was everywhere thanks to television shows like Here Come the Brides and Getting Together.
The meaning of the song, of course, is the simple, humorous misunderstanding of a child who creeps downstairs on Christmas Eve. What the child actually sees is his own Daddy—dressed in the Santa Claus costume—being affectionately kissed by Mommy under the mistletoe. It’s a beautifully simple story, capturing the magic and sweet secrets parents keep to keep the Christmas spirit alive. Sherman’s gentle, slightly breathy vocal style perfectly suits the role of the wide-eyed, slightly confused narrator. It sounds like the pure, untouched voice of a bygone era, perfectly capturing that childlike wonder and the hilarious realization that follows.
Looking back, the enduring appeal of the song, and Bobby Sherman’s musical legacy in general, isn’t just about the music itself—it’s about the feeling it evokes. It transports us back to a time of simpler Christmases, of tinsel-laden trees, matching pajamas, and the sheer, intoxicating excitement of waiting for Santa. The story behind Sherman’s recording isn’t one of huge drama or controversy, but rather one of an established pop heartthrob lending his voice to a perennial classic, cementing its place in the holiday soundtrack for a new generation. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best Christmas songs are the ones that make us smile at the innocence of it all. It’s a delightful track that continues to spin on our turntables, a perfect piece of retro pop to sip eggnog to.